In the late 1980s and early 1990s there was an unprecedented surge in sexuality research, predominantly driven by concerns over human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Researchers were anxious to understand more about specific sexual behaviors that might contribute to the spread of these diseases. In fact, since this time, the majority of research into human sexuality has been “problem-driven,” meaning that most of the research that has been done has focused on a specific problem. The research areas of priority include HIV and AIDS, adolescent sexuality, gender, sexual orientation, and sexual coercion (Bancroft, 1996). A review of ongoing research projects at the National Institutes of Health in 2002 revealed several “problem-driven” types of studies (“Sex and Unintended Pregnancy Among Low — Income Adolescents,” “Initiation of Sexual Behavior in Early Adolescence in African American Mothers”; National Institutes of Health, 2002). However, a focus on problems doesn’t allow researchers to obtain funds to research topics on healthy sexuality and answer questions such as “How does normal child sexual development progress?” or “How is sexuality expressed in loving long-term relationships?”
There are many people who are opposed to sexuality research today, and some believe that the mystery surrounding sexuality will be taken away by increasing scientific knowledge. Conservative groups believe that research done on topics such as adolescent sexuality would encourage young people to have more sex. Sex researchers are used to pressure from conservative groups that oppose their work. In fact, after Alfred Kinsey published his two famous studies about male and female sexuality (which were funded by the Rockefeller Foundation), Congress pushed the Foundation to withdraw its financial support from Indiana University, which it did (J. H. Jones, 1997).
Sexuality research in the United States has also become very fragmented, with researchers coming from several different disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, medicine, social work, and public health, to name a few. Researchers tend to be unaware of research being published in other disciplines. Journal articles are often inaccessible to a general audience or to researchers outside the discipline from which the research originated (diMauro, 1995). What tends to happen, therefore, is that the popular media become responsible for disseminating information about sexuality, which is often distorted and/or sensationalistic.
sexologist Sexologists—researchers, educators, and clinicians who specialize in sexuality—
A professional who studies sexuality. are usually PhD-level scientists who engage in sophisticated research projects and pub-
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Timeline: Important Developments in the History of Sex Research
lish their work in scientific journals. Unfortunately, they are sometimes ridiculed, not viewed as “real” scientists, and accused of studying sexuality because of their own sexual hang-ups or because they are voyeurs. Geer and O’Donohue (1987) claim that, unlike other areas of science, sex research is often evaluated as either moral or immoral. Some groups believe that marital sex for procreation is the only acceptable sexual behavior and that many sexual practices (such as masturbation, homosexuality, and premarital and extramarital sex) are immoral. Researchers are often encouraged not to invade the privacy of intimate relationships or to study the sexuality of certain age groups (either young or old). People often resist participating in sexuality research because of their own moral or psychological attitudes toward sex. Methodological problems also have made it difficult for the field of sexuality research. We will discuss these issues more later in this chapter.
Academic programs that specialize in human sexuality appeared in the 1970s, and many still flourish today. There are many programs offering advanced degrees in sexology across the United States (for more information about these programs, see our website listing at the end of this chapter). In addition, several groups exist today to promote sexuality research and education, including: the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction; the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS); American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT); Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR); and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). Many medical schools and universities now teach sexuality courses as a part of the curriculum.
Because the study of sexuality has become so fragmented among disciplines, it is possible that universities will eventually form a separate discipline of “sexual science.” Departments of Sexual Science would include specialists from different disciplines providing students with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary grounding in human sexuality. In addition, they would enable the field to acquire appropriate dedicated research funds (because funding sources are usually unaware of whom and where the researchers of sexuality are). Steady funding for sexuality research is needed to attract new students to the field of sexuality, to continue the work of senior researchers, and to expand research agendas (diMauro, 1995). Some researchers have gone so far as to claim that because the field of sexuality has many excellent gay, lesbian, and feminist scholars, we now need find a way to attract bright, straight, young academics to enter the field, especially men (Bancroft, 1999).
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Although sexuality research is still in its early stages, it has begun to help remove the stigma and ignorance associated with discussing human sexual behavior. Ignorance and fear can contribute to irresponsible behavior. Sexuality research has helped sex become a topic of discussion rather than a taboo subject. Today, understanding sexuality has become increasingly important to the work of psychologists, physicians, educators, theologians, and scientists.
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